Cable straightener



Sept. 3, 1946.

A. i'ARAMASgl-H 2,407,040

CABLE STRAIGHTENER Filed July 18, 1944 INVENTOR.

BY ANGELO 771 RA MASGHI.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 3, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,407,040 CABLESTRAIGHTENER Angelo Taramaschi, San Carlos, Calif.

Application July 18, 1944, Serial No. 545,478

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to cable straighteners and more particularly toan apparatus for manually removing kinks from wire cable.

Another object is the salvaging of sling cables and other lengths ofcable that have lost their tensile continuity by bends, kinks and otherdistortions.

A further object is to provide a portable apparatus in the classdescribed, that is simple, easily operated and adapted to function on avariety of cable sizes.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description progresses.

In the specification and drawing the invention is disclosed in itspreferred form. But it is to be understood that it is not limited tothis form; because it may be embodied in modifications within the spiritof the invention as defined in the claim following the description.

In the one sheet of drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a cable straightener constructed inaccordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan View from above of the same.

In detail the structure shown in Fig. 1 comprises the standard I,preferably composed of a single strip of fiat steel bent back uponitself at 2 and flared outwardly at 3, 4 to form a wide base for thestandard. The standard may be bolted to the floor at 5, 6 for permanentinstallation. The front foot I is riveted or welded between the uprightsof the standard at 8, and extends well forward thus forming a supportingtripod to give stability to the standard.

The interspaced jaws 9, I are preferably formed from a single length offlat steel having the return bend at H, forming a U-shaped leg loopedaround a foot of said tripod with the parallel portions I2, l3. Theseportions straddle the standard beneath the looped bend at 2 and arefastened thereto by bolting, riveting or welding. From the oifsets I4, lthe jaws 9, l0 converge to their separated ends at It.

These ends are supported and braced by the leg ll, preferably formed ofa strip of flat steel having the return bend at 18, from which theparallel lengths of the leg extend upwardly on the opposite sides of thefoot 1 to which they are attached by the transverse rivet or bolt l 9.The separated ends of this leg are attached to their respective ends ofthe jaws 9, H) at 20, 2| and cross braced by the bolt 22, passingthrough a spacer sleeve in the leg II.

This structure described forms a. rigid frame, which having a tripodbase 5, 6, I will stand upright upon an uneven floor. If a stanchion isavailable the frame assembly may be further stabilized in the largersizes by passing a bolt through the return bend at 2 for attachment tothe stanchion. In the smaller sizes of the apparatus the jaw assembly9-i3 may be attached directly to the stanchion, instead of the standardI. In which instance the supporting frame assembly Il 1 may be omitted.

The straightening elements include the notches, such as 23, graduated indepth to take the various sizes of cables, laid across the tops of thejaws 9, l6, and the lever 24, pivoted at 25, between the parallelportions [2, l3 and operating between the jaws 9, I0. This lever has thelower extension 26, slidably guided between the sides of the leg I1, andhaving the foot tread 27 on its outer end. The lever 24 is held normallyelevated by the tension of the springs 28. For comfort the outer end ofthe lever 24 may have the pipe extension 29.

This invention operates substantially as follows: The kinked cable islaid across the top edges of the jaws *9, i0 with the apex of the kinkupward. The lever is then forced downwardly against the cable until thekink is forced downwardly between the jaws a distance sufiicient tocause the cable to assume a true longitudinal line when it springs backas the lever pressure is lifted. The spiral flexibility of the cable issuch that it readily responds to the bending stress applied, whichpermits the various strands to assume their original compact formation.

The distance between the jaws is proportioned to the cross section ofthe cable, the larger sizes requiring a greater distance between thejaws 9lll permitting the cable to bend wtihout being crushed by thelever 24. This condition is accomplished by setting the jaws oblique tothe lever, as in Fig. 2. The larger sizes of cable are placed in thenotch 23, nearest the fulcrum pivot 25, where the compounding of theleverage is greatest. The various sizes of cables are laid in theirappropriate notches 23.

The resiliency of the spring 2% is such that the lever 24 can be kept inmore or less constant vibration in working out the kinks in the smallercables, which can be fed across the jaws and the cable rotated to bringthe apex of the kinks uppermost, by one hand of the operator while hisother hand operates the lever 24.

Or the lever may be operated by the foot treadle 21 and both hands usedto manipulate the cable. For the larger sizes of cable both the hendle29 and the foot treadle may be used to increase the power applied.

Where the various parts of the structure have been described as rivetedor welded to ether for cheaper construction, obviously such parts couldbe bolted together for convenience in knocked down shipping or storingthe apparatus.

The same procedure could be used for straightening or bendingreinforcing bars or the like.

The lever 24 is in effect a movable jaw cooperating with the pair ofstationary jaws 9, Ill. The pivoted lever is preferred because it issimpler to construct and operate in combination with the stationaryjaws.

Having thus described this invention and its mode of operation, what isclaimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

A cable straightener comprising a supportin tripod having an uprightstandard; a pair of stationary jaws composed of a length of rigidmaterial bent back upon itself, offset laterally and having convergingend portions, with said standard fixed between said bent back portions;a U shaped leg looped around a foot of said tripod and attached to theopposite ends of said jaws respectively; a lever pivoted between saidjaws adjacent said ofiset portions; and a lower extension of said lever,guided in said leg and having a foot treadle thereon.

ANGELO TARAMASCHI.

